UFC 300: The ultimate fight show
The moment all combat sports enthusiasts have been waiting for is finally here. After years of anticipation, the UFC has reached its long-awaited tricentennial major fight show.
Considered to be one of the – if not THE – greatest events in MMA history UFC 300 will go down early this Sunday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with an absolutely massive fight card featuring 12 current or former world champions with three title fights topping the bill.
No card in the promotion’s history has featured this much star power assembled all in one place. If usually we talk about only the main and co-main events of each fight show, this time around, we can’t afford not to delve deeper. Let’s have a closer look at some of the most promising UFC 300 bouts and what odds OlyBet sportsbook has to offer.
Alex Pereira vs Jamahal Hill
Headlining the event is a clash between light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira (9-2-0) and former division kingpin Jamahal Hill (12-1-0), who abdicated the throne last year due to a torn Achilles tendon. The 36-year-old Pereira made the move to the 205-pound ranks last July, earning a split-decision win over Jan Blachowicz in his light heavyweight debut. In his next fight at UFC 295 last November, the Brazilian snatched Hill’s vacated title by second-round stoppage against former champ Jiří Procházka. This victory meant that in just two years, Pereira won two belts in two divisions, going 6-1 overall and establishing himself as a one-of-a-kind figure in the UFC.
Hill, 32, claimed the vacant light heavyweight strap at the start of last year, out-hustling Glover Teixeira, who – interestingly enough – is a dear friend and a years-long sparring and training partner to… You guessed it – Pereira. A perfect plot for a sweet revenge, isn’t it? After several years of the division being in a state of flux, Sunday’s contest feels like a settling event — a chance for either Pereira or Hill to cement their position atop the division and begin working through the growing collection of contenders queueing up to challenge for championship gold.
OlyBet sportsbook sees Alex Pereira as a slight favorite at the odds of 1.78, compared to 2.08 for his American opponent.
Zhang Weili vs Yan Xiaonan
In the co-main event, history will be made as strawweight queen Zhang Weili defends her title against fellow Chinese fighter Yan Xiaonan. This marks the first all-Chinese championship fight in UFC history, adding an extra layer of significance to an already compelling matchup.
During her illustrious career, the 34-year-old Weili has amassed 24 wins while suffering only three losses. Her only kryptonite in the organization has been Rose Namajunas, against whom the Chinese failed to prevail twice in a row. Besides that, she has proven to be a force to be reckoned with. A well-rounded fighter, Weili is dangerous both on her feet and the ground.
Despite this being her first-ever title fight, Yan Xiaonan has proven to be worthy of a shot at the belt. She has been fighting through the ranks for years, accumulating a 17-3-0 (1NC) record and emerging victorious over a handful of revered fighters. However, Weili’s ground game might prove to be the game-changer in the upcoming bout, as Xiaonan has never submitted an opponent. Perhaps that’s the reason why she is a heavy underdog at the odds of 4.65, compared to 1.21 for Weili, who has been holding on to her belt since 2022 after dethroning Carla Esparza.
Justin Gaethje vs Max Holloway
Adding to the excitement is a showdown between two fan favorites as Justin Gaethje (25-4-0) squares off against Max Holloway (25-7-0) for the BMF (we won’t translate for the sake of censorship) title. Two gladiators and true knockout artists, both are known for their all-action style and willingness to leave it all in the Octagon, setting the stage for a potential fight of the night.
Both fighters have been in the organization for a long time, each facing and winning over a series of elite fighters. However, only Holloway has had the honor of being called an undisputed champion. Sure, Gaethje, 35, was an interim champ for a while and currently holds the BMF belt, but let’s be honest, it’s just a symbolic honor.
This fight will be held in the Lightweight category, meaning the 32-year-old Holloway will be stepping into Gaethje’s territory. Should that work in his favor remains to be seen. To beat Holloway, one of the greatest boxers in the UFC, Gaethje will have to keep this fight in a phone booth. Closing the distance and clinching — the things he does really well — will be vital in order to navigate through Max’s range. That being said, Gaethje will enter the fight as a favorite at the odds of 1.62 compared to 2.35 for Holloway.
Charles Oliveira vs Arman Tsarukyan
The king of submissions and former division champion, Oliveira, returns to the Octagon after being absent since last June. A seasoned veteran of the sport, the 34-year-old Brazilian holds multiple records within the promotion, including the most submission wins and finishes. With a remarkable career record of 34-9-0 (1NC), Oliveira has clinched victory via submission a record 21 times.
Meanwhile, Arman Tsarukyan enters this duel on the back of a three-fight win streak. The 27-year-old Armenian has enjoyed a remarkable journey of growth and success, which reflects in his 21-3-0 record. His proficiency in stopping takedowns(a staggering 75% accuracy rate) illustrates his defensive prowess and might prove to be the decisive factor in his duel against Oliveira.
Interestingly, both fighters had lost to the current division champ, Islam Makhachev: Oliveira in 2022, which ended an incredible 11-fight win streak, while Tsarukyan famously lost to the Russian in his UFC debut in 2019. The fact that both are hunting for a rematch with the lightweight king adds extra intrigue to an already sensational matchup. A victory for either man will likely result in the coveted title fight. The fact that Oliveira is a relatively terrible defender could put the Brazilian in a compromising spot, given Tsarukyan’s offensive wrestling. OlyBet sportsbook sees Tsarukyan as a firm favorite over Oliveira at the odds of 1.43 against 2.92, respectively.
Bo Nickal vs Cody Brundage
Nickal, 28, a rising star with a flawless 5-0 record, has shown his strength and skill by finishing all his opponents in the first round. In fact, three of them within the very first minute! Fans have been itching to see Nickal fight someone more experienced, and their prayers will now be answered in the form of Cody Brundage.
Sure, Brundage brings more experience into the Octagon, but his career record has not been very consistent: 10 wins and 5 losses, including a tough three-fight losing skid starting in late 2022 and ending before the close of 2023. Since then, the American has returned to winning ways with two 1st-round finishes and feels confident of extending this streak to three. “I’m the best guy this guy’s ever fought, it’s not even close,” Brundage expressed.
Both fighters are equal in height and weight, promising an evenly matched battle based on physicality alone. It will also clarify whether Nickal needs to take a considerable step up in competition again or a little more seasoning before moving forward. That being said, the hot prospect is an absolutely massive favorite at the odds of 1.04, compared to 12.20 for Brundage.
Jiří Procházka vs Aleksandar Rakić
Former light heavyweight champion Jiří Procházka welcomes Aleksandar Rakic back to the Octagon for the first time in nearly two years after the Austrian suffered a torn ACL in his right knee.
The 31-year-old Procházka captured the title in June 2022 after a five-round thriller against Glover Teixeira. However, his title reign was short-lived due to a nasty shoulder injury, which forced him to withdraw from a scheduled rematch against Teixeira and vacate his belt. He returned in November last year with his eyes on the vacant title but fell to Alex Pereira. It was his first defeat since 2015, ending an incredible 13-fight win streak. Now, the Czech Samurai has only one target – a win over Rakic, which would grant him another shot at the title.
Despite his long layoff, the 32-year-old Rakic (14-3-0) is still considered a worthy opponent for Procházka. Even more, he is a slight favorite to win at the odds of 1.82 compared to 2.03 for the former champ. Should he win, it will mark his career’s biggest achievement. However, let’s not underestimate Procházka. After all, he holds an impressive 29-4-0 (1NC) record, including 25 knockouts!
Calvin Kattar vs Aljamain Sterling
After losing the bantamweight strap to Sean O’Malley last summer, Aljamain Sterling is finally making his long-discussed featherweight division debut against the 36-year-old Calvin Kattar.
Both fighters share a similar record of 23-4-0 for Sterling and 23-7-0 for Kattar, respectively. However, the latter has not enjoyed much success lately, losing three of his last four fights. Sure, a fighting record not always fully reflects the fighter’s talent, and Kattar, with his skilled boxing abilities, stand-up game, and size advantage, might deter Sterling from attempting to take the fight to the ground. After all, the former champ excels on the mat. Take that away, and you’ll have a legitimate chance to prevail.
Despite that, Sterling, 34, is still a solid favorite at the odds of 1.58 against Kattar’s 2.44. A win for Sterling will surely make him an intriguing addition to the featherweight division… In case he isn’t already.
Bobby Green vs Jim Miller
Jim Miller… A living legend. The man with the most fights and wins in UFC history. The only man to compete in each of the UFC’s three centennial events. A 40-year-old fighting machine. Despite last fighting in January this year, he couldn’t let the fans down and miss out on completing the trifecta of UFC 100, UFC 200, and now UFC 300.
It’s only fitting that he will go against another ever-busy fighter, the 37-year-old veteran Bobby Green. Their resumes speak for themselves: 37-17-0 (1NC) for Miller and 31-15-1 (1NC) for Green. That’s a combined 36 years of professional experience and 103 professional bouts. The longevity of these two is awe-inspiring. Both are durable and able to knock out or submit their opponents.
Speaking of odds, Green is considered a favorite at 1.55 compared to 2.52 for Miller. Despite the winner, we’re just happy to be able to witness these two in action once more.
Deiveson Figueiredo vs Cody Garbrandt
Former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo makes his second start at the bantamweight division, squaring off with ex-champ Cody Garbrandt. There’s no love between the two, and the latest exchange of words has added extra fuel to the fire, making their upcoming encounter even more exciting for us, MMA enthusiasts.
After losing his flyweight title to Brandon Moreno in the first and only tetralogy in the UFC, Figueiredo moved up to the bantamweight division, defeating Rob Font in December last year. The 36-year-old Brazilian boasts a respectable 22-3-1 MMA record and is looking to add to that success with a win over the 32-year-old Garbrandt, who has enjoyed mixed success in recent years, including four knockout losses over a span of four years.
The American himself has a record of 14-5-0, and a win over Figueiredo would undoubtedly be his greatest achievement. Both fighters have insane speed and high knockout power, so we expect a finish in this promising matchup. Heading into the duel, Figueiredo is a clear favorite at the odds of 1.33, while Garbrandt is the underdog rated at 3.45.
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With a lineup this stacked and history on the line, UFC 300 is shaping up to be an event for the ages. The fight show has everything that MMA fans could hope for: world title fights, number-one contender bouts, rising prospects, and of course, legendary veterans of the sport.
We don’t think there’s a need to discuss any more. The matchups speak for themselves. Set your alarm early this Sunday and become a witness of a truly legendary fight show.
